Nehemiah 8:12

Because they understood the words.

They restrained all sorrow and ate and drank and sent portions and made "great mirth," because they "understood" the request of Nehemiah and Ezra, and that it was reasonable.

On the next day they gathered again to the reading and Leviticus 23:34, which gives directions concerning the feast of Tabernacles, was read, and the people made booths of branches of trees, and for seven days they dwelt in these abodes, keeping the feast until the eighth day with. devotion such as had not been observed "since the days of Joshua the son of Nun."

PRACTICAL AND SUGGESTIVE.

1.. people who love the law of the Lord will be. faithful people. "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.. *. His delight is in the law of the Lord, and upon his law doth he meditate day and night. He shall be like. tree planted by the rivers, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season. His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." All great men of God have been constant students of the Word, and many have been able to repeat the whole New Testament.

2. It is. duty to teach the people God's law. Every parent should see that his children are taught to hear and to understand. So, too, should the church teach the children in the Sunday-school. And in our Lord's day meetings there should be more teaching and less theorizing. "Let all things be done to edification." Too many religious services only serve to amuse, and entirely fail to instruct.

3. Let there be reverence for the word of God. If it be treated lightly there can be no profound reverence for its Author. We are commanded to "hallow his name." We can only do this by hallowing his word. To hear the Bible spoken of flippantly, or treated lightly is very painful. Hardly less painful is it to see. preacher hammer the Bible with his fists, or to "handle the word deceitfully" in order to prove false doctrines.

4. The ancient people of God were taught to be profoundly reverent for the Scriptures. When Ezra opened the Book all arose. We have observed the profound reverence still shown in the synagogue when the Rabbi brings out the roll of the Law from its closet. All bow their heads with reverence. It is said that the Jews will not cast upon the ground writings or printed pages that contain passages of the Scriptures, lest some one should accidentally tread them under foot. More of this profound respect would benefit those who call themselves Christians.

5.. man may misuse his eyes, and yet see; but whosoever puts them out can never see again. One may misdirect his mariner's compass, and turn it aside from the north pole by. magnet or piece of iron, and it may recover and point right again; but whosoever destroys the compass itself has lost his guide at sea. So it is possible for us to sin and be forgiven; recovery through God's Spirit is not impossible. But if we harden our hearts so that they cannot feel the power of the word of the Lord, the sword of the Spirit, we are spiritual wrecks. It is sad when men have ears and hear not, and eyes and see not. Finally those who will not hear, reach. point when they cannot hear.